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Urgent review needed of Antrim Council Bonfire procedure

Sinn
Féin Antrim Borough Councillor Anne Marie Logue has stated that there needs to
be an urgent review of Antrim borough councils policy and procedure surrounding
funding for 12th of July bonfires

Speaking
today Ms Logue said:

“The
policies and procedures adopted and utilised by Antrim Council in relation to
12th of July bonfires are in need of serious review.

“
Evidence from last year highlights that funding is being delivered to
some groups who are placing sectarian symbols, Irish flags and effigies
of the nationalist tradition on to their bonfires yet they continue to
receive council monies because Antrim Borough Council refuses to make
conditional funding on the basis of damage being done to good relations.

“On
top of this the sanctions for pollution, through the burning of tyres, are
completely inadequate. Groups still receive a proportion of funding if they
burn tyres on their bonfires regardless, which clearly does not encourage the
ending of this practice.

“Last
weeks council agenda dealing with this matter did not include these issues as a
major topic, instead Council conveniently released
backdated minutes of this years funding arrangements under the title of
‘other information’.

“Given the financial spend of
£30,000 of rate payers money on the 12th of July bonfires
and the manner in which some funded groups behaved
last year an urgent and immediate review into the criteria and
procedure of funding for Bonfires is required."